Rough cast segmental fillings for pulp refiners



July 1, 1969 c. A. JOHNSON 3,452,939

ROUGH CAST SEGMBNTAL FILLINGS FOR PULP REFINERS Filed March 5. 1967 mm Y S A e G h Jul 1, 1969 Filed March 3,

ROUGH CAST SEGMENTAL FLLLINGS FOR PULP REFINERS C. A. JOHNSON Sheet of 2 I N VENTOR.

Charles A. Johnson 7 31mm, 73mm,

ATTORNEYS United States Patent M 3,452,939 ROUGH CAST SEGMENTAL FILLINGS FOR PULP REFINERS 'Charles A. Johnson, Andover, Mass., assignor to Bolton- Emerson, Inc., Lawrence, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Mar. 3, 1967, Ser. No. 620,494 Int. Cl. B02c 7/06 US. Cl. 241-255 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Background of the invention This invention relates to a paper refining apparatus useful in the paper-making industry.

Segmental fillings for pulp refiners such as Claflin engines are already known in the art. Such segmented fillings have received wide acceptance proving popular with the fabricators thereof because they can be successfully cast, or molded, at reasonable cost and with the exercise of less care, and proving popular with the users thereof because apparatus utilizing segmented fillings, especially those advantageously mounted according to US. 3,059,863, or some other such means can be maintained and repaired with greater ease than apparatus of the old single-casting design.

However, there are still some difliculties in manufacturing and maintaining these segmented fillings. For example, very close tolerances must be maintained so that the fillings can be mounted properly on the shell and plug of the apparatus. Many foundry operations cannot meet these tolerances without excessive production of un acceptable castings. Moreover, assembly of such closely matched segmental fillings must be done with much care. The machining operations required for close fit are costly and time consuming.

Therefore, it is an object of the instant invention to provide improved plug and shell filling assemblies for pulp refining apparatus comprising segmental fillings which are rough cast only, with no machining, but are capable of easy, close fitting assembly.

Moreover, it is an object of the invention that the novel apparatus thereof be comprised of unitary segments which may be easily cast with suitable tolerances, tightened in place by expansible wood fillers and easily removed for replacement.

Summary 07 the invention These objects have been substantially accomplished by the novel Claflin type filling segment assemblies of the invention wherein the triangular segments are separated one from the other by relatively thin, solid, water-swellable spacers which hold the segments tightly onto the plug and in the shell and compensate for what would otherwise be intolerable dimensional variability among the rough cast, unmachined segments.

To obtain a maximum advantage in assembling the Patented July 1, 1969 plug and shell segments according to the invention, a novel configuration of both the plug and shell have been devised for holding the segmental fillings onto the plug and for attaching and holding the segmental fillings in the shell. Thus, the segmental plug fillings each include an integral, inwarly-turned lip or flange, at the small diameter end of the refiner plug which flange is positively held in place by bolt means with respect to its supporting plug liner. Moreover, each plug filling segment includes tapered tang means in the form of an inwardly projecting circumferential rib which seats into an undercut groove on the supporting plug liner. This seating not only provides a positive positioning check but also helps to hold the filling segment assembly against centrifugal forces exerted thereupon.

The segmental shell fillings each include an outwardly turned flange, or lip, at the large diameter end of the refiner shell which flange is held in place with respect to the shell by a bolt fastened through the flange into the shell. Moreover, shell segment tang means extends axially of each shell segment and is seated in the groove, or recess of a segment retaining ring to hold each shell filling segment at the small diameter end of the shell.

Brief description of the drawing partial view, in elevation, of the plug fillings.

Description of the preferred embodiment Referring to FIGURE 1 it is seen that, in a Claflin pulp refining engine 10, a truncated conical plug body 12 has bores 13 and 14 for plug shaft 15. Plug 12 is cast of metal and has a pair of oppositely disposed tapered holes 17, one of which is shown in FIGURE 1. A frustoconical plug liner 19 is held to plug body 12 by bolts 21 through hole 17.

Liner 19 is cast in one piece with an interior face 23 having longitudinally-spaced, inner annular ribs 24, 25 and 26 separated by annular recesses 30 and 31 whereby the liner is sleeved onto plug body 12. These ribs are in supporting engagement only with corresponding outer annular ribs 32, 33 and 34 of plug body 12 when liner 19 is sleeved thereupon. The large diameter end face 16 of liner 19 includes threaded holes for receiving bolts 36.

The exterior face 38 of liner 19 is provided with ribs 39 and 40 and a relatively deep, circumferential groove 43 which is cast therein in the shape of an undercut groove.

Groove 43 is cast into liner 19 so that it provides an inwardly-facing, overhanging surface 44 proximate the large end of the liner 19.

Each plug filling segment 45 includes tapered tang means in the form of an inwardly projecting, integral tang 46 for axially, slidable wedging engagement with groove 43. Moreover, and as known in the art, each segment 45 includes a plurality of integral upstanding plug knives 47 on the outside face thereof. In addition, each plug filling segment 45 includes an integral, inwardly-turned flange, or lip 48 including an aperture 49 therein for receiving plug-clamping bolts 52. Tang 46 includes a locking face 50, angularly disposed to the plane of segment 45 for engaging overhanging wall 44 and axially extending seats such as 42 are provided on both segment 45 and liner 19.

A circular covering ring 53 is preferably mounted around plug shaft 15 and acorn nuts 54 and four long, spaced plug covering ring bolts 52 are utilized as means for fastening ring 53. Before this is done, however, hexagonal nut 55, bearing on washer 56, is tightened on long bolts 52 to bring each of the four segments 45 into snug relationship with liner 19. Except for four quadrantal positions at which bolts 52 are used, shorter bolts 51 are used to secure the remaining plug filling segments 45 to plug liner 19.

At the larger diameter end of the frustoconical plug assembly a circumferential ring 60 is held tightly against end face 16 of liner 19 and in overlapping relationship adjacent the truncated conical assembly of plug filling segments 45 by bolts 36. Ring 60 is sectionalized into four 90 arcs corresponding to each quadrant of the assembly of segmented fillings 45. There are four bolts 36 for each said ring section.

The longitudinal side edges 61 and 62 of each plug segment 45 are angularly grooved as at 63 to receive the adjacent angular side wall 64 of one of a plurality of relatively narrow fillers 65 of expansible material such as wood.

About the shell A plurality of identical shell filling segments 66 are mounted directly on shell 67 by means of an integral, outturned flange 68 having an aperture 69 therethrough for threaded fastening means in the form of bolts 70. Shell segment tapered tang means 72 extending in the plane of each filling 66 is utilized in maintaining the fillings in position by Wedging engagement in a groove, or recess 73 in a truncated conical retaining ring 74 sleeved within the shell. Wood spacers 65 are inserted between each pair of adjacent shell filling segments 66 and function similarly l to spacers 65 inserted between each pair of adjacent plug filling segments 45 in permitting the rough cast segments to be assembled with clearance spaces therebetween and to be tightened by the expansion of the fillers.

The convenience of the apparatus constructed according to the invention will be evident on considering the following description of suggested methods for assembly of the shell and plug fillings:

Plug body 12, liner 19 and shaft 15 are first removed from shell 67. Then segment retaining ring 74 is sleeved within the small-diameter end of shell 67. Then the shell segment tang means 72 of each filling segment 66 is wedged into groove 73 between shell 67 and ring 74. Bolts 70 are then threaded in the large diameter end face of shell 67 enough to seat each segmented filling 66. As each filling 66 is placed into position, a 4 inch thick Wooden spacer 65 is placed next to it; after the last filling segment 66 has been installed, the last spacer 65 is fitted to the remaining space and driven thereinto.

The entire plug assembly comprising plug body 12, liner 19, and shaft 15 are removed from shell 67 and placed on a suitable temporary mounting.

Normally there will be keyways in the plug lining 19' suitable for placing a first filling segment 45 having matching protrusions to fit the keyways, in a particular position. This technique of the mechanical art is well known and therefore no indication of these keyways have been made in the drawing and no further elaboration of a keying technique is made in this specification.

A first plug filling segment 45 is placed in position on plug liner 19 with plug segment tang means axially and slidably received under overhanging surface 44 of groove 43 on liner 19.

Bolts 51 and 52 with washer 56 providing the bearing surface, are used to tighten the small end of each filling segment 45 against liner 19 with sufficient tightening to cause the seating of the assembly of segmental fillings 45. A space is left between each pair of adjacent segments and a wooden spacer 61 placed in each such space. The covering ring 53 is then placed over bolts 51 and 52 and 4 tightened by means of acorn nuts 54. A split seal 59 of the type sold under the trade designation 13475RPD by Johns Manville Company is mounted between shaft sleeve 58 and covering ring 53.

A single plug filling segment 45 can be removed for repair or replacement by the following procedure:

(1) Remove the four acorn nuts 54 and slide covering ring 53 along shaft 15 away from the plug for about four or five inches.

(2) Remove the bolt 52 from flange 48 of the filling segment 45 to be removed.

(3) Remove the bolts 36 holding that quadrantal section of the ring 60 which overlaps the filling segment 45 to being removed.

(4) Tap the filling segment 45 being removed forward toward the small end of the plug and this will unseat the filling and remove it completely.

The removal of a single shell filling segment 66 is performed in a similar manner by unthreading bolts 70 and withdrawing the segment from the large end of the refiner.

The rough cast, unmachined, filling segments 45 and 66 each include a plate-like body 76 or 77 of generally triangular configuration and arcuate cross section, an integrally cast attachment flange 48 or 68, angularly turned from one end and aflixed by axially extending bolts and an integral tapered tang means 46 or 72 at the other end, wedge anchored in a recess 43 or 73 formed by an exterior liner 19 or an interior ring 74. When the expansible fillers, or spacers have been inserted between the segments and immersed for about eight hours in water, the shell assembly 78 and the plug assembly 79 become tight truncated conical fillings. The shell assembly 78 is backed by shell 67 and while plug assembly 79 depends principally on bolts 51 and 52 to resist centrifugal forces, the bolts do not shear because the plug assembly is in contact with the shell assembly when Working and the centrifugal force is taken by the shell 67.

What is claimed is:

1. A cast unitary filling segment for a truncated, conical, refining engine of the shell and plug type, said segment comprising:

a generally triangular plate of cast material and of arcuate cross section, adapted to be assembled with similar segments into a filling assembly of truncated, conical configuration, said plate having opposite faces and longitudinally extending side edges diverging from a small end edge to a large end edge;

a plurality of straight, parallel, outstanding knives cast integrally in one said face of said plate;

an integrally cast attachment flange angularly turned from one end of the opposite face of said plate, said flange having at least one bolt aperture therein for threadedly anchoring said one end,

and tapered tank means, proximate the other end of the said opposite face of said plate for axially and slidably anchoring said other end;

said cast segment being substantially free of machined faces.

2. A cast unitary filling segment as specified in claim 1 wherein:

the longitudinally extending edges of said segment includes full length, angular groove means for receiving the adjacent side wall of a narrow expansible filler of corresponding configuration.

3. A cast unitary filling segment as specified in claim 1 wherein:

said segment forms part of a shell filling assembly;

said tapered tang means is a tongue extending in the plane of said plate from the small end of said plate and said integrally cast, angularly turned attachment flange extends outwardly from the central portion of the large end of said plate.

4. A cast unitary filling segment as specified in claim 1 wherein:

said segment forms part of a plug filling assembly;

said tapered tang means is a tongue extending in a plane angularly disposed to the plane of said plate at a spaced distance from the large end of said plate and said integrally cast, angularly turned attachment flange extends inwardly from the small end of said plate.

5. A filling assembly for the plug or shell member of a truncated, conical pulp refiner, said assembly comprismg:

a plurality of identical, rough cast, unitary filling segments of arcuate cross section adapted when assembled edge to edge with a slight longitudinal space between adjacent segments, to define a truncated, conical filling assembly fitting said member; each said segment having a plurality of integral, cast, parallel knives thereon;

a plurality of identical, narrow fillers of material expansible in liquid, each filler being positioned in one of said spaces between the longitudinal edges of adjacent segments, for expanding to tighten said filling on said member;

integrally cast, attachment flanges angularly turned from one end of each said segment and each having bolt apertures therein for threadedly anchoring said one end;

integrally cast tapered tang means proximate the other end of each said segment for axially and slidably anchoring the said other end;

and annular retaining ring means at said other end of each said segment, c-ooperable with said tang means in achoring the said other end of said segments.

6. A filling for the truncated, conical .plug body of a shell and plug type refiner, said plug filling comprising:

a one piece, truncated, conical liner sleeved on said plug body, said liner having an undercut groove extending continuously therearound proximate the large diameter end thereof;

a plurality of identical, individual, rough cast, filling segments, of generally triangular configuration and of arcuate cross section, mounted around said liner with a space between the longitudinal edges of each adjacent pair of said segments to outline a truncated, conical assembly, each said segment having cast integral knives on the outer face thereof;

a cast, integral, tapered tang extending inwardly from the inner face of each said segment, at an angle to the plane thereof, proximate the large end thereof, said tang being received in the undercut groove of said liner for anchoring said segments against centrifugal forces during rotating;

a cast integral flange extending inwardly from the small end of each said segment at an angle to the plane thereof, each said flange having a bolt aperture therethrough and being bolted to the adjacent small end of said liner,

and expansible filler means in each said space between adjacent segments for tightening said assembly when expanded by the immersion thereof in liquid.

7. A filling for the truncated, conical shell of a shell and plug type refiner, said shell filling comprising:

a plurality of identical, individual, rough cast filling segments of generally triangular configuration and of arcuate cross section, mounted within said shell with a space between the longitudinal edges of each adjacent pair of said segments to outline a truncated, conical assembly, each said segment having cast, integral knives on the inner face thereof;

a one piece truncated, conical, ring sleeved within the small end of said shell, said ring having a groove extending continuously therearound for forming a wedging recess with the inner face of said shell;

a cast, integral, tapered tang extending from the small end of each said segment, in the plane thereof, each said tang being slidably received in said wedging recess for anchoring the small ends of said segments between said ring and said shell;

a cast integral flange extending outwardly from the large end of each said segment, at an angle to the plane thereof, each said flange having a bolt aperture therethrough and being bolted to the adjacent large end of said shell;

and expansible filler means in each said space between adjacent shell segments, for tightening said assembly when expanded by the immersion thereof in liquid.

8. In a pulp-refining engine of the truncated, conical shell-and-plug type having plug filling segments, shell filling segments and a plug liner, the improvement consisting of:

inwardly-turned, integral, flange means at the small diameter end of each said plug filling segment for bolting said end to said liner;

a circular clamping ring mounted adjacent said flanges at the small end of said liner;

a plurality of bolts fastening said ring, said plug filling flanges and said plug liner together;

a continuous undercut groove around said plug liner proximate the large end thereof;

plug segment tang means extending inwardly from each said plug segment and seated in said groove, for holding the large ends of said plug filling segments on said plug liner;

shell segment tang means on the small-diameter end of each of said shell filling segment forming an inwardfacing surface;

a shell segment retaining ring within the small end of said shell, said ring having an outward facing surface engaging said inward facing surface for holding the small ends of said shell segments, and

outwardly turned flange means at the large diameter end of each said shell filling segment for bolting said end to said shell.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,184,058 5/1916 Watson 241-294- X 1,400,123 12/1921 Wolff 241298 2,922,590 1/1960 Bland 241-92 3,059,863 10/1962 Johnson 241-294 3,065,920 11/1962 Johnson 241-294 3,289,954 12/1966 Jones 241-298 ROBERT C. RIORDON, Primary Examiner. D. G. KELLY, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 241-260, 294, 299 

